Valeri collects Newcomer of the Year honor

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Portland Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri
was named the 2013 Major League Soccer Newcomer of the Year on Wednesday, an
honor that goes to a player in his first season in MLS, but has prior
professional experience.

Valeri notched a league-leading 13 assists while also finishing with 10 goals
in his first season in Portland after signing with the club as a Designated
Player from Lanus in January.

The 27-year-old is the first Timbers player to record double-digit totals in
both goals and assists in a single season, and he becomes the third successive
player from Argentina to win the Newcomer of the Year award, following Seattle
midfielder Mauro Rosales (2011) and Columbus forward Federico Higuain (2012).

Valeri won the award by a wide margin over New England defender Jose
Goncalves, who finished second, while Vancouver midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker was
third.